Fusible connector



1949 c. J. PATTON FUSIBLE CONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1947 C/LYDAS (j/ ATTON JNVENTOR.

1949 c. J. PATTON FUSIBLE GONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 14, 1947 C an/5 PArm/v INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED FUSIBLE CONNECTOR Clydis J. Patton, Decatur, Ill., assignor to James H. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,716

5 Claims.

This invention relates to fusible connectors for electrical wires. Without limitation thereto, it has more particularly :to do with such devices for outdoor use in the operatively connecting of electric distribution lines with feeder output lines from the source. It is designed more particularly to fuse user lines of comparatively low voltage, say 110 to 220 volts, but, of course, the invention is adaptable for use on higher voltage lines.

Primarily and more generally, the invention is used on the low voltage side of a distribution transformer handling, for example, such as high voltage of from 2300 to 6900 volts intake and reducing the same therein down to 110 to 220 volts output.

In cases where two or more user supply lines are connected to the low voltage output side of the transformer by devices of the present invention, it is possible and even probable that only the fusible connection with one line at a time will blow out. Thus, loss of the entire load on the transformer is prevented should a short circuit and blowout occur between only one phase of the low voltage side of the transformer and the place of use or the ground. However, if the fusible connections between the transformer and all of the user lines should blow out at the same time, the length of time the lines may be out of use is minimized because one of the objects of he invention is to facilitate ease and rapidity of fuse replacement in the blowout connection or connections with the least possible time consumed and expense entailed. I

There are several types of connectors on the market and in use in the activities covering large areas throughout the country, and with these devices the breaking of electric utility lines and the resultant loss of power while repairs are being made, has long been a troublesome and expensive problem for power and light companies, to say nothing as to the inconvenience and loss to the user. Also, corrosion and decay have long been the cause of expensive parts repairs and full replacements, as the usual types of connectors are made of such material and in such combinations and assemblies of parts that, due to the same being constantly exposed and subject to the ravages of the elements, it is often difficult and in some cases quite impossible to get the assemblies apart and detached fro-m the wiring, even for full replacement, to say nothing of the impossibility of parts repair or replacement. This is especially true where the parts of the assembly are entirely of metal and consist of bolts, nuts, screws and other threaded or specially the same become so fastened in place that they are broken or marred in removal and it becomes necessary to retap the threaded portions or reform or refinish other portions. Frequently, the entire assembly has to be replaced, while, on the other hand, the screw-threaded and certain other interfitted parts become loose as a result of vibra tion. changes in temperature, etc.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved fusible connector device which is especialiy practical and eficient for outdoor use and will avoid the disadvantages pointed out, is easily and economical y manufac tured. and from ordinary use and effect of the elements usually requires on y the repl cement of the blow-out fuse member of the assembly.

Other objects and advantag s to be a tained will hereinafter more fully appear in the following description.

Generally stated. the improved device of the present invention includes a housin body and cooperative, movable, exterior parts of e ectrically non-conductive and insu ative ma erial, pre erably a plast c or other non-metallic substance of hi h tensi e s re gth and reshtant to effects of exposure to the e ements and to the ext eme temperatures of summer and winter. The only exposed metallic member is a coil spring which surrounds a portion of the housing body and normally urges the other external movable members apart so as to hold said parts in retentive engagement respectively with a user line wire and a feeder wire, and with the so engaged wires respectively in retentive engagement with a removable and replaceable fuse element located and yieldably retained longitudinally positioned Within the housing body.

The invention further consis s in the peculiar form and arrangement of the fuse element itself and in its particular mounting in the housing body and the especial cooperative relation thereto of the exterior parts of the device.

In the accompanying drawings illustrative of a practical but non-limiting exemplification of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the body housing or fuse holder;

Figure 2 is an elevation of one end of said housing;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite end of the housing;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing looking from below;

just above Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the housing;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the external longitudinally movable thimble member;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of said thim'ble member;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the external sleeve member which cooperates opposedly to the thimble member on the housing body;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of said sleeve member;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the thimble and sleeve urging spring detached;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the complete device assembled and in normal holding engagement with the user line wire and the feeder wire;

Figure 12 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 11, but with the fuse proper indicated as blown and the movable parts and attached wires moved resultantly to a diiferent position;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section Of the complete device assembly but with the sleeve member moved further into the thimble member than shown in Figure 11 for the act of moving the user line wire into or removing it from the correlated retainer notch of the complemental fuse body member within the housing body;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of one of the fuse body members detached;

Figure 15 is a similar view of the companion fuse body member;

Figure 16 is a side elevation of the fuse body member shown in Figure 14 but on an enlarged scale;

Figure 17 is a cross-section taken on or about the line I'I--I I of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view, partly in section taken on or about the line I8 I8 of Figure 16; and

Figure 19 is a schematic view illustrative of a practical adaptation and use of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first more particularly to Figure 19, the numeral I designates an electric service line pole having a cross-tree 2 thereon, from which latter is suspended a conventional transformer 3. The transformer may be of any approved interior form and arrangement. Hence, the interior parts are not shown.

Leading into the transformer 3 from any source of high voltage current (not shown) is a feed wire 4, while a conventional ground wire 5 leads from the transformer.

By way of example, the high voltage in the intake wire 4 of the transformer, in the usual and more common practice, will be from 2300 to 6900 volts. The output voltage from the transformer, in the more common practice, will be much lower than that of the transformer intake, say from 110 to 220 volts.

In the illustration in Figure 19, there are shown two separate user line or distribution wires 8 and a single ground Wire I. The two user line wires 6 and single ground wire 7 are supported from the pole I by conventional insulated brackets 8. The details of the brackets 8 being obvious and well known, such details are not shown in the drawings.

The ground wire I is permanently connected, as by the wire 9, to the transformer 3 in an obvious and well known manner. That is to say, the connection 9, externally of the transformer 3, is merely shown conventionally, and

fit

it is deemed unnecessary to show any interior grounding provisions of the transformer.

In the illustration in Figure 19, conventional low voltage output wires Ii] are indicated as leading from the transformer 3, and the same are attached at their outer ends respectively to the user line wires 6 by fusible connectors II, the details of which latter constitute a part of the essence of the present invention. That is to say, the construction, arrangement and particular application of these connectors Ii constitute essential and important features of the invention. Hence, the same are fully shown in Figures I through I8, and accordingly described.

The full connector assembly H is shown in detail in Figures 11, 12 and 13. The several parts are shown individually in Figures 1 through 10, and in Figures 14 through 18.

Referring first specifically to Figures 1 through 5, the numeral I2 designates a main housing body or holder for a removable and replaceable fuse element proper. As shown, this member I2 is generally cylindrical throughout, that is, externally and except for a mutilated flange I3 located externally and near one end thereof.

Extending longitudinally from end to end of the housing body I2 is an axial cored passage or slideway I4. This passage or slideway I4 is rectangular in cross-section and is of one size in cross dimensions, except at one end of the housing body, that is, the end adjacent the external mutilated flange I3, where the passage or slideway is counter enlarged or recessed, as at I5.

Near the end of the housing body I2 remote from the recessed passageway or slideway end I5, the housing body is provided with diametrically opposite longitudinal slots IS in its sides, said slots communicating with said passage or slideway I4 and thereby providing a substantially elongated longitudinal passage which is normally open throughout a part of its length iully cross-- wise of the housing body.

Adjacent the external mutilated flange I3, the housing body I2 is cutaway throughout con-- siderable area from its underside so as to produce an appreciably large notch or recess Ii having one wall, remote from the flange I3, as at I8, formed fiat faced throughout and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the h0using body I2. The opposite side wall of the recess or notch I'I, near the flange I3, is cut out curvedly, as at I9 (see Figure 1). As to this side wall notched or curved recess portion I9, it is here noted that as far as the present invention is concerned, the same may be varied in size, and, in some cases, even eliminated entirely, if the first described notched or recessed portion [1 is formed of a width from side wall to side wall considerably greater than the diameter of a user line wire 6, which latter, as hereinafter described, is moved laterally of itself into or out of said notch or recess I! as the wire is attached to or removed from the fusible connector II.

Preferably, in some forms of the adopted housing body I2, the same may be further recessed on its underside, as at 20, to afford a provision for easily and more readily guiding the applied line wire 6 into the aforesaid notch or recess 1?.

Fitted longitudinally slidably on the housing body I2 is a sleeve member 2i having an internal lug 22 to fit slidably in a longitudinal groove 73-3 formed in the underside of the member l2 (see Figures 4 and 5). Also fitted longitudinally slidable on the housing body I2 is a thimble member 24 having an interior diameter somewhat larger than the exterior diameter of the sleeve member 2| or at least large enough to permit the sleeve member to be slid into said thimb-le member (see Figures 11 and 13).

The thimble member 24 is formed with an in ternal annular shoulder or collar portion 25 which is of an interior diameter to fit longitudinally slidable on the housing body |2, and this shoulder or collar 25 is provided with a lug 26 which, like the lug 22 on the sleeve member 2|, fits longitudinally slidable in the longitudinal groove 23 of the housing body |2.

The outer end of the groove 23, or, in other words, the end remote from the recessed or notched portion i? (see Figure 5) is closed, as at 21, so as to afford a stop to prevent unintentional removal of the members 2| and 24 from the housing body. However, to permit the placing of the members 2| and 2:3 on the housing body, and the intentional removal of the same, at will, a laterally offset, open-ended, relatively short groove 23 is provided adjacent this closed end of the groove 23, communicably therewith and with a bayonet effect. That is. to say, to place the members 2i and 24 on the housing body [2 it is only necessary to first slide the members 2| and 245 on with their lugs 22 or 26, as the case may be, in said short groove 28 until the lug reaches the place of lateral communication between the grooves and then turn the member 2| or 24, as the case may be, to move its lug into the groove 23, whence the applied member is slidable longitudinally on the housing member but held from rotation thereon. Obviously, by a reverse action, the member 2| or 24, as the case may be, is as readily removed.

In accordance with the present invention the said parts l2, 2| and 24 are preferably made of a plastic material of high tensile strength and of electric non-conductivity, or the same may be made of any other suitable material.

A coiled spring 29, of course, of metal but of non-corrosive character, is sleeved on the housing body l2 and interposed under compression between the applied sleeve member 2| and the applied thimble member 24. This spring 29 is of a length and forceful strength so that when applied in use, it reacts lengthwise so as to force the sleeve member 2| towards and against the flange or collar is of the housing body l2 and the thimble member with its lug 26 against the end wall 2'! of the ove 23. That is to say, this is what happens r n the members 2| and 2d and the spring element sit are .hus placed on the housing body l2 before the special fuse members are placed as a complete assembly within the cored axial passage or slideway M of the housing body l2, as will now be described.

The fuse assembly proper comprises one electrically conductive metallic member and a separate but cooperative companion member 3| of like material. Both of these members are slightly elongated and rectangular in cross section so as to fit slidably in the longitudinal passage or slideway M of the housing body, and they are substantially identical in form and size except being arranged in a reverse order. That is to say, the inner ends of the members 3% and Si, although in reverse arrangement, are rabbetted, as at 32, and the reduced body ends are grooved longitudinally on opposite sides, as at 33. These side grooves 33 are cross-connected by a transverse hole 34.

The members 36 and 3| are each further proand vided with an inclined notch 35, each notch 35 in use as indicated schematically in Figure 19 and as shown in detail in Figures 11, 12 and 13.

Normally, the metallic members 36 and 3| of I the fuse assembly proper are coupled together in a definitely spaced relation by an actual fusible member 36 which is seated at its ends on the rabbetted inner end portions 32 of said fuse body members 30 and 3| and there soldered in place, these parts as thus assembled constituting an integral fuse unit.

Inasmuch as the actual fuse member 36 is necessarily of comparatively soft metal and obviously lacking in the required tensile strength to assuredly hold the body members 30 and 3| normally in their spaced connected relation, a supplemental tie wire 31 is attached at its ends in the side grooves 33 and cross aperture 34 of the respective body members 30, 3| of the fuse assembly proper and there soldered in place. This tie wire 31 is of greater tensile strength but of much smaller gauge than the actual fuse element 36, which latter, of course, is the part to usually blow out first under excess voltage load. However, the tie wire 31, designed to more assuredly hold the body members 30 and 3| normally in their coupled relation, is located in close parallel relation to said actual fuse element 36. Thus, the flash of fire occurring as said member 36 blows, burns and breaks the tie wire 31. The parts 3!] and 3| are then disconnected and movable farther apart as indicated in Figure 12 as compared to their connected relation as shown in Figures 11 and 13, the separating movement of said parts 30 and 3| being effected by the reaction of the normally compressed spring element 29.

It is here noted that the fuse body member 32 has a flanged head 38 at its outer end. This head 38 enters the end recess I5 of the longitudinal passage or slideway I4 of the housing body l2 and bears against the shoulder provided at the bottom of said recess IS with limiting stop effect when the fuse unit is inserted in housing body I2 as shown in Figures 11 and 13. It is here further noted that, normally, in the proportioned fuse assembly, the distance from the flanged head 38 is such that the notch 35 in the fuse body member 3| is brought contiguous to the transverse plane of the inner ends of the side slots l8 of the housing body l2 when the flanged head 38 is seated in the end recess N3 of the housing body. At this time, too, the notch 35 of the fuse body member 30 is in registration with the recess I! of the housing body. By this proportional arrangement of the parts, and the wires 6 and it in place as shown in Figure 11, the pressure of the sleeve 2| and thimble 2 2, under the influence of the spring elements 26, against the engaged wires 6 and ID, holds the wires securely against the outer wall portions of the notches 35 in the fuse members 30 and 3!. Moreover, with the parts thus engaged (see Figure 11) and the wire Ill being contiguous to the inner ends of the housing body side slots IE, only very limited, if any, movement of the fuse assembly is permitted in one direction longitudinally of the housing body, while the flanged head 33 prevents any appreciable movement of the fuse assembly in the opposite direction. 2

Obviously, by reference to Figure 11, it is seen that the spring-urged sleeve member 25 and thimble member not only hold the wires 6 and III in retentive engagement with the notches 35 of the fuse members 30 and 3| but the fuse unit is retained in the housing body I2. It is further noted, by reference to Figure 12, that the disconnected fuse members 30 and 3| are also retained in the housing body |2 after the actual fuse element 36 is blown and the tie wire 31 is broken.

In order to hold the connected wires 6 and It more securely in place, the sleeve member 2| is provided at one end with diametrically opposite notches 39 and the thimble member 24 with like notches 40 to engage over the wires.

As hereinbefore pointed out, with the fuse assembly removed from the housing body, the cooperatively assembled exterior parts including the sleeve member 2|, the thimble member 24 and the interposed spring element 29, are retained on the housing body l2 by the flanged collar l3 and the groove end wall 21. To apply the feeder wire ID it is only necessary to slide the thimble member 24 back against the spring 29, compressing the latter, and inserting the end portion of the wire I!) laterally through one of the side slots l6 of the housing body and through the registered notch 35 of the member 3| of the fuse assembly as previously inserted in the housing body, and then releasing the thimble member 24 to the reactive eifect of the spring element 29. At this time, the sleeve member 2| is pressed by the spring element 29 against the external flanged collar 3. This particular position of the sleeve member 2| is not shown in the drawings but the thimble member 24 and the wire ID will be in the engaged relation shown in Figures 11 and 13. Then, to apply the line wire 6, the sleeve member 2| is retracted and held, compressing the spring element 29 as indicated in Figure 13, so that the line wire I can be moved into the housing body notch I1 and the registered notch 35 of the member 30 of the fuse assembly. The sleeve element is then released to the reaction of the spring element 29 and the wire Ill and associated parts will be in the relation indicated in Figure 11. The wires 6 and I0 can be released from their retentive engagement with the fuse parts 30 and 3| by a similar retractive actuation of the sleeve member 2| and thimble member 24.

It is here further pointed out that with the actual fuse member 36 blown and the tie wire 31 broken as indicated in Figure 12, the spring element 29, under reactive effect, may have become extended to a length such that the wire l0 would be moved to a position where it is closely contiguous to or actually in contact with the outer end of the side slot I6 of the housing body. Thus, if the extended spring element be of a certain length, as indicated in Figure 12, the outer end of the sleeve member 2| may be in or about the position shown, that is to say, the outer end of the sleeve member may be spaced some distance from the external flange collar l3. In this position of the sleeve member 2| the wire 6 is still engaged in the notches 39 of the sleeve member. However, if the spring element 29 be extensible to a greater length than that shown in Figure 12, with the actual fuse 36 and tie wire 31 broken as shown, then the sleeve member 2| will be moved by the spring element into contact with the external flanged collar l3, in which position of the sleeve member 2|, of course, the fuse body member 30 will be moved correspondingly some distance outwardly from the position shown in Figure 12, that is to say, provided, of course, that the notched wall enlargement I9 is provided at the outer side of the recess ll of the housing body. However, if the wall notch i9 is not provided as shown, and the outer wall of the recess I1 is spaced inwardly some distance from said external flanged collar l3, the sleeve member 2i obviously will not be moved into direct contact with the flanged collar i3 if the wire 6 is not removed from engagement with the fuse member notch 35 and the notches 39 of the sleeve member 2|.

From the illustration in the drawings and the foregoing description, it is obvious that a fusible connector is produced for the purpose described, of which device the housing body and cooperative external parts can be used over and over again, and that the actual fuse unit assembly is readily placed originally in, removed from and replaced in the housing body at the location, thus not only at minimum expense to the power and light company but also to the advantage of the user, service to whom can be restored rather expeditiously after a fuse blowout on the supply line. The connector device of the present invention is further of material advantage in that it is especially adaptable practically and efficiently for use where a transformer receiving very high voltage and reducing the same to the ordinary commercial relatively low voltage has its output connected to two or more separate distribution lines. In such cases, it is obvious that, usually, only one fusible connector will blow out at one time, so that only the one user or group of users served by that particular line will be temporarily without service and that service may be quickly restored should a fuse blowout occur.

It is further noted that the connector device of the present invention is constructed to withstand the eflects of the elements in all seasons of the year as well as the extreme heat of summer and cold of winter.

The illustrated disclosure is but one practical exemplification, and modification and change is contemplated within the purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims. [he invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown.

What is claimed is:

1. A fusible connector of the character described, the same comprising an elongated housing body of electrically non-conductive material, said body having cooperatively opposed external members mounted longitudinally movable thereon with a spring element interposed between and urging said cooperatively opposed external members in a direction away from each other, and a removable and replaceable fuse unit assembly in said housing body, said fuse unit assembly comprising two opposed separate longitudinal electrically conductive members normally connected in spaced relation and in longitudinal alinernent by an actual fuse member, said housing body adjacent one end having an opening to receive transversely of the body a delivery line wire and adjacent its other end an opening to receive a distribution line wire, the opposed fuse assembly members having wire receiving openings therein, and the spring-urged external cooperative members on said housing body, under the influence of said spring element, bearing retentively on the wires received in said receiving openings in said fuse assembly members.

2. A fusible connector device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in addition to the actual fuse member connecting the longitudinally alined and spaced-apart fuse assembly members, a supplemental tie wire, paralleling and in close relation to said actual fuse member, also connects said fuse assembly members, said tie wire becoming broken and ineffective as a tie element upon and by the blowing of said actual fuse member.

3. A fusible connector of the character described, comprising an elongated generally cylindrical housing body of electric non-conductive material, said body housing having a central longitudinal slideway therein and extending from end to end thereof, one end portion of the slideway being counter-enlarged, and the housing body having lateral openings to the outside and communicable internally with said longitudinal slideway of the housing body, opposed external cooperative members mounted longitudinally slidable on the housing body, an interposed spring element normally urging said external members away from each other and one towards each end of the housing body, means for limiting such movement of the external members and retaining them on the housing body, a removable and replaceable fuse unit assembly comprising two opposed, spaced apart and longitudinally alined electrically conductive body members connected together as a unit by an actual fuse member, said fuse body members having openings to receive retentively and respectively a feed wire and a distribution line wire, one of the fuse body members having a headed enlargement at its outer end to enter said end enlargement of the central longitudinal slideway of the housing body when the fuse unit assembly is inserted into said slideway, so that, when the fuse unit assembly is placed and in limited position in the housing body, the wire-receiving openings of the fuse body members are located in position to receive the wires, said spring element, in its reactive effect, normally urging said external cooperative members on the housing body into retentive engagement with the wires as engaged by the fuse body members.

4. A fusible connector device as set forth in claim 3, wherein, in addition to the two fuse body members being connected normally by the actual fuse member, said fuse body members are also connected by a supplemental tie wire paralleling 10 said actual fuse member and relatively close thereto whereby said tie wire becomes broken upon and by the blowing of the actual fuse memher.

5. The hereindescribed characteristic fusible connector device, comprising an electrically nonconductive housing body having longitudinally slidable externally thereon two opposed cooperative members normally spring-urged away from each other and towards the respective ends of the housing body, said housing body having an axial slideway therein and extending from end to end thereof, and also having a lateral opening adjacent each end and each opening being in communication with said axial slideway of the housing body, and a fuse unit assembly to be placed removably and replaceably in said slideway of the housing body with provision for limiting the inserting movement of the fuse unit assembly, said assembly comprising a longitudinally spaced-apart pair of electrically conductive fuse body members normally connected together by an actual fuse member, each fuse body member having a wire-receiving and retaining opening positionable registrably with respect to the lateral openings of the housing body, and said spring-urged external cooperative members on the housing body having provision at their outer ends for retentive engagement respectively with an applied feeder wire and an applied user line wire, said wires being moved laterally into the housing body through its aforesaid lateral openings and received. into said retaining openings of the fuse unit body members and being held in place by said spring-urged external cooperative members.

CLYDIS J. PATTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,601,673 Bridgman Sept. 28, 1926 2,099,500 Sanders Nov. 16, 1937 2,320,929 Hodnette June 1, 1943 

